Collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University and Korea University
Academic Approach to Local Identity
Jongno District in Seoul (Mayor Jeong Munheon) announced on December 26 that it has launched "Jongno Studies," a regional academic initiative aimed at systematically researching the 630-year history and identity of Jongno. On December 24, the district held the "Jongno Studies Opening Ceremony" at the Open Hall of the district office to mark the day of opening up 630 years of Jongno and officially declared the full-scale promotion of Jongno Studies research.
Photo of the plaque unveiling ceremony at Jongno Learning Center on the 24th. Third from the left is Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno District. Provided by Jongno District.
Jongno Studies is a regional academic field that integratively analyzes the temporal, regional, and cultural characteristics of Jongno. Through this initiative, the district aims to strengthen its status as a cultural city and academic hub, while also seeking to address local issues and connect research with policy development.
The research will be centered at the Jongno Studies Center (10th floor, The K Twin Tower), focusing on systematically exploring Jongno's identity and future vision and sharing these findings with citizens.
At the academic lecture held on the same day, researchers from Korea University and Sungkyunkwan University participated, discussing topics such as the academic significance and research direction of Jongno Studies, the lifestyle of residents in the Daehak-ro area during the 18th and 19th centuries, the historical value of Bukchon, and the potential for further expansion of Jongno Studies.
Previously, Jongno District established a collaborative network with Sungkyunkwan University and the Global Institute for Humanities at Korea University, and has been discussing research directions and mid- to long-term tasks centered on a dedicated task force for the promotion of Jongno Studies.
Going forward, the district plans to establish Jongno Studies as a humanities brand embodying local identity and actively utilize research results in urban policy formulation and cultural projects. The district aims to build a sustainable research foundation for systematically accumulating and disseminating Jongno's historical, cultural, and humanistic assets.
An Daehoe, Director of the Jongno Studies Center (professor at Sungkyunkwan University), stated, "Through Jongno Studies, we will strive to ensure that Jongno becomes a vital root of Korean studies, going beyond Seoul studies."
Jeong Munheon, Mayor of Jongno District, said, "I hope that Jongno Studies, as an academic field dedicated to researching our neighborhood, will become the foundation for enriching residents' lives," adding, "Together with residents, we will rediscover the value of Jongno and expand it into the future."
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